Despite Russia’s “provocative steps”, Georgia remains firmly committed to the peaceful conflict resolution policy, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released on August 7 on the occasion of eighth anniversary of the 2008 war.
“Eight years after the August 2008 war, as a result of the pragmatic approach of the Georgian government the risk of escalation of the conflict is significantly decreased, however the security and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories remains grave,” it said.
Noting about erecting of barbed wire fences and “border signs” along the administrative boundary line by the Russian troops, the Georgian MFA said that these “destructive actions are exacerbated by abduction and illegal detentions of the Georgian citizens.”
Detentions, mainly of local population, along the administrative boundary line for, what Tskhinvali and Russian troops say is, “violation of South Ossetia’s state border”, are not rare; usually detained persons are released few days later after being fined.
The most recent case occurred last week, when a local Georgian man in his early 40s, Alexandre Sheverdashvili, was detained close to his native village of Kveshi on the administrative boundary line. After he was released, Sheverdashvili had to spend two days in a hospital in the town of Gori as he suffered a concussion and bruised chest, according to a doctor. Sheverdashvili told journalists after he was discharged from hospital on August 7 that he tried to run away, but was captured by at least five armed men, who, he said, were most likely Russian border guards, and beaten up before being transferred to a detention center in Tskhinvali.
Total of 163 people were detained by the Russian border guard troops at the breakaway South Ossetia’s administrative boundary in 2015, according to the Georgian State Security Service.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that eight years after the war, Russia continues “illegal occupation of the regions of the sovereign and independent state in contradiction with the international law as well as the commitments of the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement.”
“Hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees have been still denied the right to safe and dignified return to the places of their original residence, while the remained population in the occupied regions suffers from the permanent ethnic discrimination. A clear illustration of that is the prohibition of education in native language, gross violation of the right to freedom of movement and property, which creates the risk of a new wave of ethnic cleansing in the occupied regions,” the Georgian MFA said.
“Moreover, Moscow launched the actual annexation process of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions, integrating them into Russia’s military, economic and social systems, which flagrantly infringes the fundamental principles of the international law.”
In the statement the Georgian Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed Tbilisi’s commitment to remain actively engaged in the Geneva International Discussions, which were launched after the August, 2008 war with the participation of negotiators from Georgia, Russia and the U.S., as well as from breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
“The Government of Georgia will further continue its rational policy towards Russia and will use all available diplomatic and political tools to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. Besides, the Government will spare no efforts to create favorable conditions for the reconciliation between the war-torn communities and stay open to share the benefits of Georgia’s European agenda to the people living beyond the occupation line,” the Georgian MFA said.
“While the ongoing occupation of the regions and serious security challenges, Georgia managed to succeed in its democratic transition and sustainable economic development, steadily moving along the path of its European and Euro-Atlantic Aspirations,” it said and also expressed gratitude to “the international society for the firm and unwavering support to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“The Georgian side calls upon the international community to further consolidate the efforts in responding the consequences of the August 2008 war and the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Georgia in compliance with the international law,” the Georgian MFA said.
Politicians from opposition UNM and New Political Center-Girchi visited on Sunday military cemetery at Mukhatgverdi in Tbilisi outskirts to pay tribute to Georgian soldiers fallen in the war. Official commemoration ceremony at the same venue with the participation of government members will be held on August 8.
